I have several flashlights in the house including a couple that are plugged in but to be honest usually I just use my smartphone.
Always one by the back door, (from back when I had to check for skunks before letting the dog out.) And one by the side door, just because. And one in the basement because if the lights failed it’d be sooo black, and it’s sooo cluttered, you’d never make it out alive!
But in the house proper I have switched to electric fake candles, that are controlled with a remote. I have a candle in every room, virtually unnoticeable. When I come down in the dark morning, they make a lovely dim light I can easily navigate the house by. Turning them on and off as I pass through the rooms. I’m loving them, they’re replacing nightlights at my house. They have a lovely, warm, flickering light. The ambiance is great.
Yeah, about a dozen or so.
Comes in handy, like recently when I was without power for about sixty hours.
But in my home office, I have two small LED book lamps on when I’m at my desk: one attached to a music stand, and one clipped on to another small shelf/stand on my desk. The focused light is helpful in addition to a regular floor lamp.
I often use a red-lensed LED flashlight to find things in the dark, at home or in the car. It’s small enough to carry in a pants or shirt pocket.
A full-sized “tactical” flashlight with strobe, adjustable focus, all that, always goes with me in my satchel.
And another similar model high-lumen light on the bed stand.
A tiny keychain LED light is clipped onto my work badge lanyard. It’s useful.
And a headlamp put into “red” mode is useful occasionally as well. Don’t use the heavy duty headlamp much if ever, because it’s large and heavy and really designed for spelunking or to go over a hardhat, I suppose, but it’s a useful secondary charger for DC devices, as are a few other lights, if needed.
I also like the UV flashlight, but I’m not sure I want to know what secrets stains lurk nearby, so it’s used very sparingly.
So, yes, I use flashlights and small clip-on reading lights quite a bit. I think they’re neat.
My favorite personal flashlight is a Streamlight Microstream. Less than 4 inches long, 1 triple A battery that seems to last forever, very bright LED, practically indestructable and water resistant. Even if you are wearing tight jeans it will fit in your pocket without you realising it is there. They are a little spendy, about 25-$30 dollars but well worth it, to me.
If you are working in a tight space, on your car where you need both hands for other things, etc, you can easily hold it in your mouth.
MicroStream® Pocket Light | Powerful Miniature LED Flashlight | Streamlight®
Is that a flashlight in your pocket? Sorry, could not resist.
I mostly just use my cell phone. But totally agree that sometimes you have to point it at something. We have… 3 or 4 regular flashlights, plus a rechargeable one that you can use on your head.
One thing I learned in search and rescue & camping - if everyone is wearing head lamps don’t look at them when you talk. You will blind them. Best to adjust the light down to your feet when with a group.
I’m a big fan of Olight. There’s 3 Baton 3 Pros spread around the house. I didn’t know about the Oclip; I might have to get that one, too. Thanks.
How do I routinely use flashlights?
I have young children.
My routine is buying new batteries.
So many times I find a head-torch or flashlight still shining in a “cave” or “fort” made up of blankets and furniture, hours after the kids have moved onto other games.
So far I’ve got the Oclip on my key ring and it’s not too ungainly there. Pretty handy, and since it appears to be solidly built it should take the every day abuse in my pocket. It’s great that it has the lockout feature.
Seeing this thread inspired me to take an inventory. I power most of these with Eneloop rechargeable Ni-MH batteries.
- I have a Victorinox Midnite Manager on my keychain.
- In the car, a Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC90.
- On the end table by the door I have a Maglite 2 D cell with an upgraded LED bulb.
- For backup/extra light in the living room, a Quantum Magnetic Work Light.
- In the kitchen I have a mini 9-LED light and a Coast Hp7.
- In my day pack I carry a Rovyvon A3 mini rechargeable and a red Photon Micro light.
- In the closet, a Hi Gain 500 portable spot light and a “Vintage” Ray-O-Vac Permissible Electric Flashlight.
- In the bedroom a Energizer “Tactical” AA pocket flashlight.
- In the emergency kit there’s a Coast HP5 and a UST Pico Lantern with a couple of packs of batteries.
- Finally, when all the batteries are dead and the candles are all gone I have a cheap-o “Ultra Bright LED Shake Light” that isn’t ultra bright at all.
I rarely use flashlights today.
The only one I have now is one that I keep in my car for emergencies, even though it was originally for work when I got it. Otherwise I just use my phone, either turning the screen on or using the LED flashlight.
I grew up with tons of flashlights and batteries however, since Miami tends to get frequent storms that knock out the power. And FPL was never a reliable power company in the first place. Now living in California, my power hardly ever goes out. And if it does, it’s usually back on within a minute.
Ah. A Coast person. I love my Coast WLR1 1290 (not a flashlight, exactly, but a “work light” that I keep in the car if I should ever need sustained lighting with ample adjustable focus settings). It has been known to migrate indoors during power outages.
This has been brought to you by Coast. (No, I don’t care if Coast comes, stays, lays, or prays, but it’s part of my kit and on a sample size of one, or perhaps two, it seems, they make good stuff).
SERIOUS question: how many of the, apparently, great many people who value light in the dark, have turned around to slightly favoring standard replaceable batteries (AAA, AA, D, C, whatever) v. rechargeable LiOn lamps?
For me, the thrill is a bit gone with the usual USB-x LiOn, and nowadays for new purchases (if needed) I seek out tools with AAA/AA/D/C/whatever and am currently “investing” in NiMh rechargeable batteries. Nu?
Anyone here, besides me, a member of Candle Power Forums?
Lots of flashlight, and other illumination knowledge there.
We keep a small but powerful flashlight mounted on the side of the refrigerator with a magnet.Probably use it several times a month for various things.
Oh, wow.
That is an intense forum!
To their credit, it doesn’t seem to be the usual macho EDCarry/prepper/forager crowd, but those cats and kittens’ credit, they seem to know things.
Thanks, for that is now a bookmarked resource for all things flashlight related! Avanti! (Should be the name of a flashlight forum).
Us too. Two, actually, with a third one stuck to the metal ducting in the furnace room; we got nifty ones on a 3-for-one deal from Woot, decades ago. Those definitely get the most use.
I have a small one (a Maglite) in my purse; my husband has a similar one in his pile-o-pocket-stuff, which see sporadic use.
We have a stash of other lighting options in one room including some cheap flashlights and at least one battery lanern, all stored away without their batteries installed (to prevent ruination by corrosion), and if there’s a power outage we use either the pocket lights, the fridge lights, or our phones to light things up enough to find and equip the stash. We also have a Coleman propane lantern somewhere in the basement, the sort that you screw onto a small propane cylinder then light with a match. I think we set that up ONCE after moving to this house (20+ years ago); I don’t recall what the occasion as.
The fridge lights? Maybe that’s a misprint for something?
For one thing, if my power’s out the fridge light doesn’t work. For another, if my power’s out I don’t want the refrigerator door open unless necessary to grab something out of there.
I have several. One in my nightstand, one on my nightstand. One by the backdoor, actually 2. One in the living room bar shelf. a couple in my cars and one in my work car. I have two backpacks and have one in each. I check them regularly and change the batteries when needed.
Having said all that, I primarily use my phone because it’s so easy, “Siri, turn of flashlight”.
I meant the flashlights stuck to the side of the fridge. I didn’t explicitly say that in my post, but it was mentioned in the one I quoted.
Yeah, if the power’s out, we do NOT open the actual fridge.
Whoops! OK, that does indeed make sense.
I mentioned upthread how I standardized on 18650 batts for lighting and with a nice collection of the cells, some drop in chargers, I got good system in place. With that being the case, I’m happy to recommend the lights below, sold as a pair and without batteries. The zoom/focus is awesome and the brightness is, like, whoa. The spot is a little square at the tightest setting but it really throws a long distance and the price is right. I did put wrist straps on them and note they’re single mode: no high/med/low/tactical strobe stun or whatever.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0899PXLTQ/
I keep another single mode 18650 in the car, similar in size and black appearance to the above but no focus. I used it this fall to get a better look at a fox in a driveway I’d pulled along next too. Really neat, thanks driver’s seat flashlight!